I happened onto a steel plate with a hole in it, about the size of a paper plate. Corners each had a hole so a length of heavy chain allowed me hang over a standard target stand. Target stand had a pc of poster board.

The idea is to shoot through the steel hole. ;)

Therefore I have ~9" of target and I don't have to change the target.

Today, during lighted hours I ran by a store and bought some more poster board, I traced some smaller circles from some in store items, coffee can, and other items...I told the sales lady I needed to cut holes and just tracing...:uhoh: I think the kicker was when I spied the balloons, and the can of spray paint and added that as she was ringing me up...

I then placed my smaller holes to shoot through during daylight hours. Balloons were GG, hole BG.

Tonight....Brrr...temp dropped all day. I removed my smaller holes, and used the steel. I set up some oil lamps, 4 cell Maglights and one Coleman Lantern. I shot ~100 12 ga slugs in varying amount of low light situations. I changed up distances and angles.

Note: Black ballons are easier to see in low light than gray or brown.

So I just got back from shooting the slugs, about 500 rds of handgun ammo in 9mm and 45ACP.

I don't have to walk down to check paper, Spray paint shows any "misses" and I can spray paint over these.

I know what folks are thinking " A 9" target is pretty big" . Hold a 9" paper plate over your chest...what do you cover up? :)

I figure in the real world , low light, weird angles, and adrenline pumping ...Good practice.

I was going for " don't think - just shoot the darn thing" . As quickly, as accurate and with focus. I even tossed in some dummy rds for drills.

Brrr...dang wind...

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Freedomv

January 14, 2005, 09:18 AM

I like the concept and think I shall work something up myself along the same lines. However I am more than a little concerned with bullet splash etc.

Did you have any problems?

How close did you address your target etc?

Vern

sm

January 14, 2005, 11:27 AM

Handguns:

From 5 yds on out. I was shooting at angles,for a couple of reasons: 1) added measure of safety for richochet 2) I kinda doubt BGs are going to be facing me straight on like a Teddy. Inconsiderate as BGs are they will probably approach me from an angle, make me look for cover and be more inconsiderate to require me to shoot weak handed. :D

Shotguns: Well I was using slugs. ;)

This was thin steel, I could shoot through it - I tested it. Still shooting at an angle was a measure of safety for me- I was out by myself.

I have done the same thing with Plywood,sheetrock , etc., square or round holes. Masking tape covers any misses.

Naturally one has a good backstop and all.

Came up with [ borrowed] shooting through a target many many years ago. The human brain/ eye/ hand cordination focuses on the hole - that human computer dealie. Don't have to walk down and change targets as often.

I borrowed this trick from a mentor y-e-a-r-s ago. More time shooting, less time changing targets.

I shared something with Trisha the other day as another excersise I did with students.

Put clothes on a target.

I made some Scarecrows once and made some Female. Interesting thing came out. Ladies had no problem shooting COM. Guys 'hesitated" or shot low on the "female" scarecrow.

Paper, teddy's, steels and such are great, I just do stuff different for a change and to Prevent myself from always thinking - associating BGs as only being the regular targets. Psychological , mindset thing I learned a long tome ago.

nomadboi

January 14, 2005, 01:43 PM

One common archery drill is to use steel sillhouette targets with cutouts for the deer's vitals... if you're good, you shoot through the hole and can keep your arrow. If you miss, you can kiss your arrow goodbye. Good motivation to go for a clean shot.

Freedomv

January 14, 2005, 06:44 PM

I think that I will work on a few targets like this when the weather warms up a little. (below zero F around here lately) I would definately have to put some clothes on them now

Vern

Arc-Lite

January 14, 2005, 07:38 PM

sm...I have been doing the same thing, with old tires, target in the center and rolling them down a hill, great angle change as well as bounce.

BHPshooter

January 14, 2005, 07:52 PM

sm...I have been doing the same thing, with old tires, target in the center and rolling them down a hill, great angle change as well as bounce.

THAT is GENIUS!!!

SM, that's a great idea for "quick and dirty" shooting. ;)

Wes

P95Carry

January 14, 2005, 08:13 PM

Food for thought Steve ... always a drag that going to replace or paste the paper.

I always enjoy it when I bother to take my three arm steel spinner ... it always presents a new ''paddle''. :)

sm

January 14, 2005, 08:53 PM

I keep telling you folks I ain't that smart.

Some elders and mentors just passed some stuff forward to me is all. Granted I have been known to adapt, improvise and -oh phooey - what is the other one? ( damn age) .

One old Mentor taught me humility...I was doing pretty good with 13" tires...damn old fart rolled a small trailer tire on me..."aim small - miss small" - and yeah he laughed when I missed.

Had some young folks, new tricked out shotguns, real fancy sights...said I was "old school"...I kept telling them shotguns were pointed not aimed...and they kept missing a 15" passenger tire with plywood target in center....

Had 'em roll three at once, "old school pump gun with front bead only - put all tires down fast...gotta like them slugs when you absolutley must put it down. :evil:

Chris...FYI ...a .44 mag will take the spinner plum off a .22 rimfire spinner target...and the next smaller size too...*shrug* all in the name of research of course...*snicker*

Overcome...it is Improvise, Adapt and Overcome...damn age...just took a bit for my Hard Drive to access the information... :p

Oh - shut up Chris... :neener:

P95Carry

January 14, 2005, 09:03 PM

Chris...FYI ...a .44 mag will take the spinner plum off a .22 rimfire spinner target...and the next smaller size too... Ahhh - but Steve - I didn't specify the spinner!. I do actually have a bought one with 1/2" thick ''paddles'' which is designed for .44 mag ... did prove tho that .454 is a tad ''strong'' for it. hah!

But no - the one I meant was this fella below. Pic taken when I had just made it ... it now has many ''bruises'' as well as (cough) -- ''perforations'' :evil:

http://www.bedford.net/design/shoot/spinner/spinner02_s.jpg

caseydog

January 14, 2005, 09:21 PM

That spinner looks like a good spot for some "plowblade" paddles :D

P95Carry

January 14, 2005, 09:25 PM

That spinner looks like a good spot for some "plowblade" paddles That ol' buddy is exactly what it's gonna get!!!! Once I have disked thru that blade to make bite size chunks ... the welder will come out and the paddles receive their ''armor'' :evil:

Then ... next time out we'll give it hell! :D

sm

January 14, 2005, 09:32 PM

Chris...heh heh heh

When I arrive ( someday) for giving you shotgun lessons - that is the story we are telling Bonnie - right?

Lets see what you can do with shotgun slugs in that spinner...that is after I "demonstrate" first....*snicker*

Well for sure I don't have to worry about Chris using enough gun, being sensitive to recoil, or not having stuff to take to range.

Hi Bonnie. I'm that guy you like the way I talk - remember? :D

P95Carry

January 14, 2005, 09:37 PM

If the yard is as damp as it sometimes can be Steve ... and in warmer months - you'll have all the slugs you need - just get liftin stones! :p

Bonnie's at work - but I'll tell her your greeting! :)

sm

January 14, 2005, 09:51 PM

Remember when that big Purple Dino was popular with kids, and hated by parents?

Had a Lady, a mom, having trouble on consistent trigger control. " You try 5 hrs on a car trip by yourself with a 4 yr old and that damn Barney tape playing over and over and over...

I used Barney targets - oh yeah, she focused allright. She became very good with a model 10. I then went to a wind up toy with a Barney target - she nailed the slow moving dino. Transition to a 15" passenger tire with the Purple Dino rolled out, she had six shots nail the moving dino.

I sure feel sorry for any Perp that attempts harm to that lady or child...especially if he is wearing purple. :D

P95Carry

January 14, 2005, 09:52 PM

Sounds awful spendy in Barnies to me LOL! :neener: :D

sm

January 14, 2005, 10:07 PM

NOt when these are donated by parents and grandparents that " thank goodness my child, grandchild has finally outgrown it" .

I never said my teaching methods were routine, sane or normal now did I ?

I just find what works, keep it simple, safe and fun. Being nuts helps some too. :D

Lady shows up to shoot " my kid informs me she is too big for Barney now" - other ladies wait their turn to shoot the VCR tape.

Hey, all I suggested was lots of practice, I never dictated they HAD to shoot any particular kind of target.

" Hey I found a pic of my ex"...Ladies again take turns..." no offense Steve" as they blast away "talking" about ex as they shoot.

One of the best motivations was the student that had decided that CCW was a big responsible decision to make- needed to think on it. A few weeks go by and she comes in with bullet holes in her vehicle. Case of mistaken vehicle ID by someone else...

She dedcided she could make that decison , it was not the car so much but the bullet holes in house that almost hit her Grandmother asleep - taking care of and living with Grandma while attending school up here.

Motivated she was.

spacemanspiff

January 14, 2005, 10:16 PM

Guys 'hesitated" or shot low on the "female" scarecrow.
how 'well-endowed' did you make the female scarecrow?

sm

January 15, 2005, 01:05 AM

Grapefruit .

Literally - I used Grapefruit. Had a gift box given that the tastes were not all that great, so I used them.

Spiffy - don't go there. :D

Sunray

January 15, 2005, 03:54 AM

"...to improve speed and focus..." Yes, you're daft. Focus and therefore shot placement is far more important than speed. Mind you, the ability to take a life can't be practiced.

sm

January 15, 2005, 10:47 AM

humm...

As I taught students, I do myself. I preach gun fit and shot placement. Learn correct fundamentals and practice these. Speed will come.

In low light my 3 shotgun slugs at 10 yds grouped inside a tennis ball. At 15 yds 4/5 a tennis ball covered with the 5th on the edge.